Did you know that drones are classified as aircraft, essentially making you a pilot? When you fly your drone, you are sharing the skies with other drones and aircraft. Before you fly a drone, you should familiarize yourself with the following regulations to ensure you meet the legal requirements.

New Rules for Flying Drones in Canada

The rules which drone pilots must follow when flying drones are contained in Part IX (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations. The new rules for flying drones in Canada will come into effect on June 1, 2019 and apply to Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), or “drones” that i) weigh 250 grams up to and including 25 kilograms; and ii) are operated within the drone pilot’s visual-line-of-sight, regardless of whether the drone is flown for fun, work, or research.

All pilots of drones that weigh between 250 grams and 25 kilograms must get a drone pilot certificate.

Basic & Advanced Drone Operation

The new rules introduce two categories of drone operations: Basic and Advanced. The categories are based on distance from bystanders and on airspace rules.